Jesus Closet

From his Find The Funny DVD

More Stephen K Amos videos

A circuit stalwart, Stephen K Amos made his Edinburgh debut in 2001, returned in 2003, and has performed there every year since. He has also appeared the Melbourne Comedy Festival every year from 2006 to 2009.

Amos has also acted in a number of dramatic plays at the Fringe, including One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest with Christian Slater in 2004 - which later transferred to the West End – and Talk Radio in 2006.

On TV, he has performed stand-up on Live at the Apollo and the 2007 Royal Variety Performance and appeared on several panel shows, including Have I Got News For You, Mock The Week, The Wright Stuff and Loose Women, where, in February 2009, he caused a stir by revealing that Prince Harry told him he 'didn't sound like a black chap’ after his appearance at a gig to celebrate Prince Charles's 60th birthday.

In 2007 Amos made an acclaimed Channel 4 documentary on homophobia in the black British community and in Jamaica, Batty Man. He is also in the cast of 2009 BBC Two sitcom In My Country, a multicultural show set in a run-down guest house.

In 2004, he won a Time Out award for comedy, and he has been nominated for the Chortle Award for best compere three times, in 2004, 2007 and 2008.

School For Scandal - Fringe 2009
Live Review
Pleasance Courtyard

This Comedians’ Theatre Company production is a riot of corpsing, in-jokes and general mucking about, occasionally interrupted by a Restoration comedy.

It is, apparently, how Sheriden would have wanted it. His Georgian comedy of manners was intended to be loosely performed, allowing celebrity actors of the day free reign to embellish the script and play to their stage persona. In this way it’s the perfect Edinburgh play, able to employ stand-ups who are the stars of this particular month-long insular society, where they are temporarily famous for their individual styles.

The finer points of the plot do get lost amid all the high-jinks, making the overly-busy production more of a playground where the cast can don powdered wigs and extravagant bustles or breeches and run around the elegant set as if they’ve each just guzzled a litre of Sunny D. At one point, an exasperated character utters, with typically anachronistic nod to the audience: ‘It’s Restoration comedy, not Pappy’s Fun Club, for flip’s sake.’ Could have fooled us.

The star casting is 77-year-old Lionel Blair, as the henpecked Sir Peter Teazle, husband of a much younger wife (Bridget Christie, blowing nicely hot and cold), and butt of many a gag about his advancing years. The fact that the jokes could be as much about the character as the celebrity playing him is typical of the essence of the show.

He might be the big name, but he’s not necessarily the star. That honour probably goes to Amy Saunders – best known as sword-swallower Miss Behave – playing the scheming Lady Sneerwell (none-too-subtly named given her propensity to scoff at others) with over-the-top finesse.

King of the scene-stealers, in a cast riddled with them, is Steve Jameson as Moses. In many recent productions, the character’s Jewish heritage has been played down, for fear of anti-semitism. But here, he Heebs it up, wisecracking like Groucho Marx, and almost as funny.

Running him a close second is the foppish Paul Foot, who was born to prance around with such effete exaggeration. Sometimes his physical flourishes are over-the-top even for this unsubtle production, but you still just have to watch him.

Ella Kenion’s Mrs Candour is also a delight; her jaw quivering with delight at the prospect of imparting or learning some fresh nugget of salacious gossip. Marcus Brigstocke gets to be a supercilious, aloof wastrel, Stephen K Amos is a lightweight but flamboyant comic relief, and Phil Nichol is a central fulcrum of relative restraint – that shows just how out-of-control the extravagance has got.

In some ways, it’s an embarrassment of riches, with too much going on – both scripted and otherwise – as the flourishes overwhelm the actual play. Acclaimed director Cal McCrystal could do with tightening some segments up, while still allowing for improvisation, if the production is to have any life outside Edinburgh. Though given the size of the cast and the commitment needed, that may well prove impossible.

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Fabulous night at the Lowry. Stephen was brilliant - far better than expected and I have to say his gig was much, much better that the Eddie Izzard gig I saw a couple of months ago. His set was full of energy, fan and yes, "The Feel Good Factor" too. A 17 year old baker in the audience was singled out for gentle teasing (never offensive, never uncomfortable) and at the end of the show he made a point of thanking him (and a few others) for their part in the show, and even encouraged him to see him after the show. It was a lovely warm gig with the whole audience involved. Fabulous, I can't sing his praises loud enough!

Sam Darnbrough, February 2010

Great show. So good live

sam, February 2010

Saw Stephen last night in Halifax. Excellent show from start to finish with great support from Seann Walsh (Pop & Crisps.... hey !) Left the audience with the feelgood factor with lots of laughter. Lad in the audience with the ambition to fly a kite a gift from the comedy gods. 10 out of 10.

David, October 2009

Here's a game you can play with your friends at the gig. take bets to see how many minutes it is before he does a racist gag (anti-white). You can play it at home too on any of the numerous comedy quizzes he is drafted on to. can also be expanded to the first minute anyone laughs

paul foreman, October 2009

I think the show is very very funny. I like the fact his whole show is not just about being black. I say this because I have seen him perform on two occasions. Once at hackney empire and again at choice comedy. The joke is that he is highlighting how dated some peoples views are by brining them up. He is able to laugh at himself and everyone else as well.

lozz, October 2009

I saw him in Edinburgh and was genuinely offended by his whole routine. For a black man who talks about colour and race so avidly, he's setting the race debate back 50 years. Everything about his act is outdated from the random, pitiful, sexist 'dance routine' to the constant accusations of racism towards his audience or indeed any non-black people. When is he going to learn that that is not funny, it's not true, it's boring and it's offensive. You're the racist, Stephen. Get some material or don't claim you've got a show.

Vicky J, August 2009

I think your are a breath of fresh air - funny witty and I can't wait to see you live.

paula, August 2009

I just listened to the interview on Radio 4's loose ends. How disappointing to hear such ignorant rantings about Australians. Such pathetic generalisations to get a laugh. It is the height of rudeness after his successful tour here where he was embraced by the australian public and received very positive reviews for his performances. It would seem one can only expel racist remarks if you are the right colour. If some Australians are a tad brash at times... Perhaps it is a legacy of our British heritage Mr Amos? Double standards are repulsive.

symphonie, May 2009

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8